John R. Allen

John Allen
President of the Brookings Institution
In office 6 November 2017 – 12 June 2022 On leave: 8 June 2022 – 12 June 2022
Preceded by	Strobe Talbott
Succeeded by	Ted Gayer (acting)
Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
In office 16 September 2014 – 23 October 2015
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Brett McGurk
Commander of the International Security Assistance Force
In office 18 July 2011 – 10 February 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	David Petraeus
Succeeded by	Joseph Dunford
Commander of United States Central Command
Acting
In office 30 June 2010 – 11 August 2010
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	David Petraeus
Succeeded by	James Mattis
Personal details
Born	(1953-12-15) 15 December 1953 (age 71) Fort Belvoir, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	United States Naval Academy (BS) Georgetown University (MA) National Intelligence University (MS) National Defense University (MS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1976–2013
Rank	General
Commands	International Security Assistance Force United States Forces Afghanistan United States Central Command (Deputy Commander) 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines The Basic School United States Naval Academy – Commandant of Midshipmen II Marine Expeditionary Force
Battles/wars	Iraq War War in Afghanistan
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Leftwich Leadership Trophy
John R. Allen's voice Allen on U.S. global leadership in the coalition to counter ISIL Recorded February 25, 2015

John Rutherford Allen (born 15 December 1953) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general, and former commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A). On 13 September 2014, president Barack Obama appointed Allen as special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).^[1] He was succeeded in that role by Brett McGurk on 23 October 2015.^[2] He is the co-author of Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence with Darrell M. West (Brookings Institution Press, 2020) and Future War and the Defence of Europe alongside Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges and Professor Julian Lindley French (Oxford University Press, 2021). Allen was president of the Brookings Institution from October 2017 until his resignation on 12 June 2022.